Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2006 10:05:21 -0700 From: the_dojang-request@martialartsresource.net Subject: The_Dojang digest, Vol 13 #335 - 8 msgs X-Mailer: Mailman v2.0.13.cisto1 MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Errors-To: the_dojang-admin@martialartsresource.net X-BeenThere: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net X-Mailman-Version: 2.0.13.cisto1 Precedence: bulk Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net X-Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net X-Subscribed-Address: kma@martialartsresource.com List-Id: The Internet's premier discussion forum on Korean Martial Arts. 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Copyright 1994-2006: Ray Terry and Martial Arts Resource The Internet's premier discussion forum devoted to Korean Martial Arts. 2,100 members. See the Korean Martial Arts (KMA) FAQ and the online search engine for back issues of The_Dojang at http://MartialArtsResource.com Pil Seung! Today's Topics: 1. Taekwondo: root and power (Jye nigma) 2. Re: More about the wallet (Jay O'Connor) 3. Re: Re: prices (s. yates) 4. World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships (The_Dojang) 5. 2006 Stanford Taekwondo Summer Camp (The_Dojang) 6. USAT Award Nominations (The_Dojang) 7. Re: Re: prices (Ray) 8. Stance article (Jye nigma) --__--__-- Message: 1 Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2006 10:18:56 -0700 (PDT) From: Jye nigma To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] Taekwondo: root and power Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net I wanted to know what people thought about TKD stances and the concept of Root. I think it's no surprise that TKD has very little root and the stances aren't all that centered, but I want to know what you all think about this? Do you feel TKD is as powerful as it could be without being centered and root power? Jye --------------------------------- Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1˘/min. --__--__-- Message: 2 Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2006 11:27:42 -0600 From: Jay O'Connor To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: Re: [The_Dojang] More about the wallet Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Jye nigma wrote: > i had to respond to this...lol... > People pay alot of money to obtain a college degree because that degree can potentially used that degree as a means of making back the money they spent out...lol. The goal there is to obtain a degree that you can then use to get a better job, or make the transition from job to career, in essence you can use that degree. Where can you use a martial arts degree/certification? to be fair I'll use a couple of examples, 1)health club offering martial arts instruction, 2)starting your own martial arts club. but where else? > > jye > > James K Allison wrote: > To me a Martial Arts degree is no different than any other degree you > can earn from a college or University. So why should we not require the same level of commitment. Security Guard Bouncer Mercenary/Soldier-Of-Fortune Movie Stunt Extra ?? --__--__-- Message: 3 Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2006 10:29:26 -0700 (PDT) From: "s. yates" Subject: Re: [The_Dojang] Re: prices To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net "I realized something, people can get all of that and more by doing volunteer work in their community. Helping the poor, cleaning up the streets, rehabing a home, working in a soup kitchen, caring for the sick and old, mentoring at risk kids, etc. and guess what...that's all free of charge. " Right, and most people DO NOT do that. They do not even have the self discipline to do things for themselves, let alone someone else. "So I think people should stick to not trying to make martial arts training as a necessity vs a luxury." How about we call it a necessary luxury? "I think the school owner who says I charge this much because I believe this is about what my facility/instruction is worth should be given respect as they are being quite honest. Don't get me wrong I love the martial arts but I wouldn't dare consider it a necessity." Some people consider a college degree a necessity. I don't think it is really relevant except in certain specified fields. It wasn't necessary for 90% of the most successful people in the world. SY --------------------------------- Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1˘/min. --__--__-- Message: 4 Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2006 10:50:27 -0700 From: The_Dojang To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net 1st WTF World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships and the 2nd Korea Open International Taekwondo Championships 10 Aug 2006 Dear Athletes, Coaches, Instructors and Officials of National Associations This is in regard to the outlines and competition dates of the 1st WTF World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships and the 2nd Korea Open International Taekwondo Championships in Seoul , Korea . Would you please visit the specially made site of the Korea Taekwondo Association (www.koreaopentkd.com ) to get all the information on the two events. Best regards, Yang Jin-bang Deputy Secretary General Korea Taekwondo Association --__--__-- Message: 5 Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2006 10:52:24 -0700 From: The_Dojang To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] 2006 Stanford Taekwondo Summer Camp Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net To: RAY TERRY From: USAT Administration Subject: 2006 Stanford Taekwondo Summer Camp There is still some room left, but there's less than two weeks before the 2006 Stanford Taekwondo Summer Camp starts! (Clubs that send participants will recieve a beautiful certificate of recognition from the Stanford University Taekwondo Program) Coaches/Staff Chul Ho Kim (2x World Champion 1989/1991, OTC/National Team Coach, 2004 Olympic Staff) Tim Ghormley (Stanford University Head Coach, Camp Director) Seung Min Lee (2x World Champion 1993/1995, Asian Games Gold Medalist 1997, Korean National Team 1990-1997) Tim Thackrey (6x U.S. National Team Member, Pan-Am Games Gold Medalist) Kent Kitagawa (Former U.S. Taekwondo Coach of the Year, Conditioning Coach for Major League Baseball, Chicago Cubs) Steve Rosbarsky (Missoula Taekwondo, former National Team member, USA Taekwondo Coaching Presenter) Cody Aguirre (2x U.S. National Team Member) Heidi Gilbert (7x U.S. National Team Member) Stanford Taekwondo Team Members Highlights: - Live on campus with athletes from all across the United States including Junior and Senior National Team members! - Three training sessions per day (conditioning, skill development, sparring, match management, new drills for speed, timing and explosiveness) - Workshops on Taekwondo Visualization Techniques, Periodization Made Simple, Balancing Athletics/Academics - Campus tours, Games, Swimming, Movie Night, Dance contest, San Francisco Tour, Special Guests and More! This camp is like no other taekwondo camp! We work hard to make it an unforgettable experience in terms of training, fun and friendship. Our highly trained staff guarantees that every participant is treated with respect and given feedback on their performance, whether they are a new competitor, Junior Team Member or getting ready to move up to Seniors. The Stanford Taekwondo Summer Camp has now been recognized as a Developmental Camp by USA Taekwondo. Red and Black Belts Only 11-13 and 14-17 Age Groups August 14th through 18th Stanford University Palo Alto, California For More information and registration: http://tkd.stanford.edu/summercamp or call (408)674-2370 Register Today!! Note: All Junior National Team Members should call before registering for special information. --__--__-- Message: 6 Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2006 10:53:49 -0700 From: The_Dojang To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] USAT Award Nominations Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net To: RAY TERRY From: USAT Administration Subject: Deadline for USAT Award Nominations is Aug. 31 The deadline for the 2006 USA Taekwondo Annual Awards Program nominations is fast approaching. Don't delay...nominate a worthy individual today! Deadline is August 31. Award criteria and nomination forms can be found at: http://www.usa-taekwondo.us/USATaekwondo2006AwardsProgram.pdf Awards include: - Chris Canning Award of Excellence (trophy and $1,000 scholarship) - Male & Female Athlete of the Year - Male & Female Junior (14-17) Athlete of the Year - Referee of the Year - Coach of the Year - Club of the Year - Volunteer of the Year - Family of the Year - Lifetime Service Award - Alexa Miller Award --__--__-- Message: 7 From: Ray Subject: Re: [The_Dojang] Re: prices To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2006 10:45:55 -0700 (PDT) Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net > Some people consider a college degree a necessity. I don't think it is > really relevant except in certain specified fields. It wasn't necessary > for 90% of the most successful people in the world. Buzzt! But thanks for playing... It seems this thread is not offering any new useful, or accurate, data or points of view. Time to move on. Thanks. Ray Terry rterry@idiom.com --__--__-- Message: 8 Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2006 10:56:55 -0700 (PDT) From: Jye nigma To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net, itf-taekwondo@yahoogroups.com Subject: [The_Dojang] Stance article Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net I found that this article has some pretty decent info about posture and stances. Jye About Stances The famous Japanese swordsman Musash, who survived over 60 actual life and death duels and then wrote his classic text on strategy, The Book of Five Rings, Musashi, wrote, "Make your fighting stance your everyday stance, make your everyday stance your fighting stance." Stability and movement are essential in the practice Taekwondo. For any block or attack to be effective, the body must be stable so maximum force may be transferred to the opponent. While maintaining its stability, the body must also be able to move quickly. Stance refers to the lower part of the body. A strong stable base is needed to perform powerful, fast, accurate, and smoothly executed techniques. The upper part of the body is balanced on this firm base, with the back straight and perpendicular to the ground. This relatively stationary stability is called static stability. However, it is only necessary to assume this position just before delivering an attack. If one concentrates too much on remaining in a firm and stable position, he or she will be stiff and unable to move quickly. During movement, the body must maintain stability, this is called dynamic stability. All martial art styles use stances. Low stances are very stable and powerful. High, upright stances are less stable but allow for quick movement. For example: wrestlers use a low, crouched stance, most karate stylists use a low, upright stance, most Chinese stylists use a low, long stance, Aikido uses mostly upright stances, and Taekwondo, while considered an upright styles, uses low stances. Stances form the foundation of all Taekwondo movements and techniques since they maintain stability while permitting quick movement. When the body is stable, tension in legs and feet is transferred to the body’s center of balance to furnish a firm foundation for any technique while still permitting rapid body movement in all directions. Without a firm foundation, movements will be unstable and techniques will lack speed and power. Stances involve the concepts of body position, range, focus, and breathing. This topic discusses body positioning as related to stances. Range, focus, and breathing are discussed in other topics. Stances also express the user’s state of mind, spirit, purpose, and determination—they reflect the user’s intention to do battle. Stance and movement Some martial arts teach awkward stances and movements. This may be okay as related to the art part of a martial art since good art is in the eye of the beholder. However, when it comes to the martial part of a martial art, these awkward stances and movements are counterproductive. If a baby human is left in the forest and raised by wolves, such as in the legend of Romulus and Remus, at some point the baby will stand and begin to walk on two legs. This will occur without the baby ever seeing another human to imitate. The child will walk naturally and make needed stances without any instruction from a martial art “master.” As the child gets older and becomes an adult, he or she may become less physically fit and become lax in making effective stances and movements but the instincts are still there so he or she will still be able to use them if necessary, especially when fatigued. For example, if you turn your head to look over the left shoulder, your left arm naturally extends and right arm relaxes. This is why your car drifts to the right when you check look to the left at a traffic accident as you pass it. When a martial art instructor tries to teach unnatural stances and movements to students, the students do not perform them instinctively and they must learn how to perform the techniques. Natural stances and movements are easy to perform; the instructor only needs to show students how to perform them better. Purpose of stance Permits maximum use of an external force (floor in the case) to increase the internal force (our own body musculature) into a technique. A good stance, coordinated with proper breathing and correct posture helps transfer forces from the feet into the technique. Absorbs any recoil forces from the instant of contact of a technique. Enables smooth shifting and change of direction. When discussing stances, balance, power, and mobility must be considered. Maximum power and mobility are obtained when the center of balance (a point in the center of the body behind the belt knot) is as low as practically possible. If the center of balance is too high, the body is unstable and leg movement is limited, so power and mobility are reduced. If the center of balance is too low, it is difficult to use the inner thigh muscles for leg movement which limits both power and mobility. Beginning students first learn stationary stances. As they progress in training, they learn that stances are merely transitory positions that are changing dynamically as circumstances demand. Intermediate Stances Intermediate stances are non-standard stances that are momentarily used to prepare the body to shift into a proper stance. Although effective in maintaining stability while moving, they are not stable enough to use in techniques. Intermediate stances aid in maintaining dynamic balance wile moving. Note: When the right foot is forward in a stance, it is called a right stance and vice versa. Posture Posture is correct body alignment. Posture, stance, and breathing are the three most important foundations of technique. Many people ignore these points and just imitate the outer form, the result is Strengthening bad habits of movement Techniques that are limited to the muscular ability of the arms or legs Greater chance of injury The spine consists of 24 moving vertebra supported by muscles. Pairs of nerve roots exit the spine from between these interlocking vertebrae. This makes the spinal column a most essential link to the nervous system. The arms and legs are controlled by the information sent through this link. When there is abnormal pressure or tension on the spine, pressure is applied to the nerves leading to the limbs and the muscles that are connected to the limbs will not contract and expand properly. Poor posture robs energy from the body, The better the postural alignment the better the functional performance. Ideal posture occurs when the muscular-skeletal system functions most efficiently. Poor posture causes greater stress in the stabilizer muscles and joints and therefore increases the chance of injury. Good posture and alignment leads to better balance, agility, and even faster recovery from a workout. A good posture allows us to use the center of the body, the base of effective techniques. All techniques and movement of legs or arms are controlled, initiated, and stabilized from this center. The center of mass of the body is located about 2 inches under the navel and toward the middle of the body (a point called the tan-den). Technically we create energy from the center of the body by dynamics; rotation, vibration, shifting, dropping, lifting, or pendulum motion, and by using the breath to control the contraction and expansion of muscles. These energies extend and transfer to the other parts of the body depending on the technique. The center of the body serves to transfer energy between the impact point a strikes and the floor, via the feet, and it acts as a stabilizer against impact shock. With firm center, energy will transfer smoothly. Energy transfers best in a straight line, therefore, when posture is misaligned, energy is wasted. Another problem with posture is imbalance between the front and back muscles. In life, we do much more flexion than extension, which leads to shortened abdominal muscles and a weak back. Most techniques to the front require use of the back muscles. Neglecting the body center results in more injuries and not fulfilling your potentials. Articles by prominent conditioning and athletic coaches and researchers stress the importance of developing the “core” of the body for enhanced athletic performance and to prevent injuries. Those articles always mention martial arts as example of good use of the body center. Stay Erect Keep your upper body vertical; do not lean in any direction. Beginners tend to lean backward or forward at the waist. Tense the lower abdomen and buttocks enough to make the body firm but not stiff. Head and Shoulders To protect the head and neck, drop your shoulders, pull them together, and pull head down into the neck, while keeping the body and head upright and chest held high. Leading shoulder is slightly raised. Keep your chin down and pulled inward, while keeping your head vertical so you have clear vision of your target. Face head in the proper direction. Do not exaggerate the movements or make the movements feel unnatural. Keep chin soft. Eyes appear as if looking from deep inside at center of the head, “shooting” energy forward. Arms and Hands Keep arms up in front of body to guard the upper chest area. Keep hands high enough to protect the head while keeping elbows tucked close to the body to protect ribs and solar plexus. As long as opponent is beyond an arms reach, keep hands low enough that you may to see opponent’s feet. When opponent is within an arms reach, hold hands a little higher but do not block your vision of the opponent’s upper body. At this close range, trying to see your opponent’s feet through your hands would expose you to a hand attack. Hips Power and speed comes from hip snap. Coordinate hip movements with body movement. Abdomen Keep lower stomach firm—“shoot” your ki forward from the tan-den. Upper stomach slightly presses back, to allow using the back as a base and to stabilize the lower spine. Tailbone Hold tailbone in—do not tilt the body externally, simply lengthen the spine. Knees Knees are always bent; never lock the legs. The angle of the knees should not become acute since sharp angles interrupt the transfer of power through the knee joint. Also, avoid wide angles since they reduce the amount of power generated by the muscles on either side of the knee. Feet The feet stay parallel to the floor during movements; do not raise the heels. Slightly lift the toes of a stepping foot so they do not stub on the floor; this also prevents the heel from rising. Lead foot position dictates body position, as foot turns inward, the body is more protected but turning it too much will slow your attacks. For correct posture Neck and back should be straight and natural (not stiff) so the back muscles can transfer body pressures to the feet. Allow the body to assume its natural condition (relaxation) without any forced intent. Neck should be relaxed so the head is floating independently from the body, if head was hanging from the ceiling. When you release tension in the neck, the head will naturally float upward. Keep tailbone pulled in to lengthen the lower back. The body pressures are handled by the back, the neck does not participate. When executing a technique, if the mind is concentrate on the head, you will reach forward and the upper torso will lean. Concentration should be from lower stomach( Tan-den) outward, so the enter of mass adds to the power of a technique. If the posture is correct, then Breathing is unrestricted. Body action may be smooth and quick. Muscle action can be complete achieving maximum contraction or expansion. Do not confuse muscle relaxation with collapse and loss of posture. Good posture will prevent back injury and can help improve an existing injury. Pose Poses are specific postures used in stances. For example, from a back stance you may lift your front knee into a front kick chamber pose to act as a guard against a kicking attack. Poses are dynamic, not static. They are instinctive definable movements that occur spontaneously and change as needed at the moment. Chambers used during patterns are poses when they are done with intent, and they flow seamlessly with the movements. Focus Keep your eyes focused on your opponent. Do not stare, but try to have strong, powerful, piercing eyes that reflect your intense power and dedication to purpose. Do not concentrate your vision straight ahead. Look at your target but be aware of any peripheral movement. Relax Relax the muscles and stay loose. Tension reduces endurance and the speed and effectiveness of techniques. Slide When stepping, release weight from the moving foot and push off the supporting leg using the inner thigh muscles to propel the body. The movement is more of a sliding step since the moving foot remains in contact with the ground. In a street defensive situation, you cannot clearly see the ground or what may be lying upon its surface, such as broken glass or gravel. If you step into a hole or onto something slippery, you may lose your balance and open yourself to an attack. By sliding a moving foot, it clears its path. You are "seeing" the ground with your feet as you move. Do not shift your weight back onto the moving foot until it is in position on a firm surface. Once the weight starts shifting, you are committed to the movement, so if the foot is not on firm ground, you may expose yourself to an attack or the possibility of falling. Base While moving in any stance, the feet should always stay at least a shoulder width apart. This insures you always maintain minimum balance. Settling Once in correct position for a particular stance, settle the body weight/mass/center of balance down into the stance. You should feel as though you are making yourself very, very heavy; so heavy that no one could pick you up, but at the same time, you should feel light on your feet so that you can still move quickly. Foot Pressure When you are settled into a stance, the force of the body's mass is transferred to the floor through the areas of the soles of the feet (the footprint) that make contact with the floor. For most stances, these areas are primarily the heel, the ball of the foot behind the big toe, and the big toe itself. When standing in a formal stance, think about where the feet are making contact with the floor and keep your weight concentrated over these three points. These is commonly called "rooting." During movement, the amount of pressure on each of these three points may vary, but after the movement is completed, the body should once again become rooted. Hip Height When lifting the leg for a kick, do not raise the hips. Raising the hips will raise the center of mass, weaken stability, and weaken the kick. Movements Movement may be linear (forward or backward in straight or nearly straight lines), circular (in circles or curved lines), or perpendicular (side to side in straight or nearly straight lines). Learn to move quickly. Movements are a series of contractions and expansions. Contraction refers to bringing the arms and legs inward toward the centerline of the body, and expansion refers moving them away from the centerline. While performs patterns, we first chamber and contract the arms and legs, and then expand into the technique and stance. During turns, it is important to contact the body as close to the rotational axis of the body as possible. Ever notice a ice skater doing a "scratch spin." The skater starts to turn rather slowly with the arms extended (expanded). As as the arms contract closer to the body, the spin gets faster and faster. You turn faster with your arms contracted than with them expanded. When performing a 270 degree turn in Taekwondo, you start from a forward stance with the arms and legs held away from the center of the body. As you start rotating, you cross the arms close to the body and bring the legs under the center of gravity. The rotation is stopped by extending the arms and legs away from the torso.For smooth turns, the hips need to rotate directly over the base foot and the head and shoulders should remain in line with the hips. Types of Stances Fighting stance This stance should enable us to respond quickly and in harmony with a technique or change of direction. Important points of this stance are: This type of stance should be very soft, not too low. Center of gravity between the legs. Continuous pressure to floor using the breath. Never equal pressure to both legs, that will cause heaviness in movement, always pressure to one leg at a time without changing the center. Stance during execution of a technique This kind of stance should be strong enough to absorb impact shock without loss of energy or lost of balance. Important points of this stance are: Both feet should be rooted in the floor. Widest stance without loosing muscular control. Center of gravity at lowest. Upper legs and hip muscles apply twisting tension from the inside to the outside or from the outside to the inside to connect the legs to the torso and to maintain potential energy for quick change. Apply strong downward pressure to the floor at the time of impact. Leg Tension Stances use either inner, outer tension or no tension (natural). Inner tension occurs when the tension in the legs and feet is directed inward toward the center of balance, as in the cat and sanchin stances. Outer tension occurs when the tension in the legs and feet is directed outward away from the center of balance, as in the front and sitting stances. Individual stances may use either inner or outer tension, but not both. Some stances have little or no tension, such as in front and back stances. Using unnecessary muscles will hamper speed,power, and balance and cause unnecessary fatigue and a lack of control. Some instructors speak of squeezing the feet into the floor while creating leg tension to strengthen the stance. Some claim this acts as a suction cup to make the body more solid on impact so it may resist any attacking force by using friction. Friction is the interaction between two (or more) surfaces. It relates only to the type of materials, the smoothness if the surface, and geometry. It is expressed as a coefficient of friction. Since you cannot change the composition of your feet or the floor, you can only change your geometry. You can only try to change the surface area of contact by maximizing your foot to floor contact, i.e. do not curl toes or rise on balls or heels, but you cannot change your coefficient of friction. How you effectively you use that friction is the key. Friction accounts for the feet sticking to the floor, but it does not account for the feet being pushed outward or inward against the friction of the foot-floor contact that creates extra force into the floor. This does not happen simply because of gravity. The force of gravity is constant and your mass. If you exert a downward component of force greater than that used to support your body weight, you will rise up. Since you do not do this when squeezing your feet together or pushing apart, there is no vertical component of force. So, any squeezing should be done horizontally, not into the floor This squeezing stiffens the legs but whether this actually strengthens the structure of the stance or provides stability is debatable. Some would argue that the increased muscle tension creates a more stable structure. Others would argue that the tensions counter act each other in opposite directions and accomplish nothing. Others might argue that too stiff of a stance structure may actually weaken the stance, and that pushing against the friction of the floor contact continually is actually reducing the amount of force necessary to break that contact and destroy the connection to the floor. Until formal research is performed and replicated, no one will know for certain. Hip Rotation As discussed in the Power, Hip Snap, and Hips topics, hip rotation is important in achieving maximum power in a technique. Some stances aid in hip rotation, while other stances hamper it. The front stance aids hip rotation the most, while the back and sitting stance hamper it. Since the knees are not free to move in these stances, the hips may not rotate unless a step is taken. For this reason, hip ration frequently occurs when moving between stances, such as moving from a back stance into a front stance. Sometimes students will try to rotate the hips from a stance that does not support the movement by let the stance collapse and moving their knees. This should not be done, it is better to shift into another stance that supports hip rotation. Stance Choice Each stance has qualities which are advantageous or disadvantageous, according to the situation. Also, each stance changes, according to its use. For instance, in preparation for an attack from a front stance, the front knee is bent and both legs are relaxed to permit quick and flexible movement. However, at the moment of impact of the attack, the muscles of the legs must contract to strengthen the hold of the feet on the ground and to give power to the technique. Maintaining unnecessary tension in the legs or using a stance which is too low will hinder quick movement. Learn all the stances and when to use them. Use stances that fit your size and ability, fit the technique you are using, and fit the attacking style of your opponent. Practice using stances on both sides. Certain techniques are easier to execute from a specific stance, such as a leading foot front kick from a front stance. Some techniques must be executed from a specific stance, such as a sliding side kick from a sitting stance. Stance May Weaken a Technique It may happen! When you are standing in place, your are pressing into the floor at a constant rate which is a component of both gravity and your mass. When you begin to push into an object that is not easily moved, such as when punching an opponent, you add a third support for your body weight. Your feet and fist are acting as a sort of tripod. In other words, some of the body weight that you want to apply through your fist is actually being exerted through your feet. If you lift the front foot of a front stance while punching into a wall, you will notice the increased pressure on your punching arm. Now, your body weight is only supported by your rear leg, your punch, and the connecting points in between. This demonstrates how a punch landed just before the front foot connects with the floor may be timed to have a larger mass component than a punch thrown with both feet planted in a stance. Do not let the hips rise when lifting the foot or the body may rise and be up-ended if a larger opponent is punched while charging in. Stance Correction After each movement, check all aspects of your stance and make corrections as needed before continuing. Training One common training method is to keep the same stance under tension for a long time. Another method is to alternately tense and relax the muscles the way they are used when focusing a technique. When learning a stance, it is useful to practice the offensive and defensive techniques which are suited to it. Points to Remember In all stances, the knees and toes of each leg should point in the same direction. Knees and ankles must be bent sufficiently and remain firm. Soles of the feet should adhere to the floor. Height of the hips is about the same for all stance. Hips position must be accurate so proper weight distribution is maintained. Stances vary according to objective. Common Errors Buttocks sticking out to rear To much concern about form Hips positioned improperly Ankles too relaxed Heels floating Knees and toes out of line Posture Posture is an important part of stances. The spine consists of 24 moving bones supported by muscles. Pairs of nerve roots exit the spine from between these interlocking bones called vertebrae. The spinal column is an essential link between the body and the nervous system. The extremities are all controlled by the information sent through these links. When there is abnormal pressure or tension on the vertebrae, information from the spinal cord is hampered. Good posture keep the nervous system operating correctly. Some points of posture are: Neck and spine should be straight and natural (not stiff), so the back muscles can transfer forces to the feet. Neck is relaxed so the head is floating independently from the body. The tension for a stance is from the back. the neck does not participate. Tailbone is pulled in, lengthening the lower back. If concentration is in the head, it and the the upper torso will lean forward. Concentration should be from low stomach outward so the center of gravity extends to the center to the target. If the posture is right, then: Breathing is unrestricted. Body action will be smooth and quick. Muscles action may achieve maximum contraction or expansion. You must not confuse muscle relaxation with collapse and loss of posture. Good posture will prevent back injury and may help improve existing injury. You should ‘let’ rather than ‘do’ anything in a muscular sense. Alow the body to assume its natural condition, which is relaxation. When you release the tension in the neck, the head will lift.The torso will lengthen naturally when a one learns not to compress the spine. This lengthening is the natural result of pulling the head upward. --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Get on board. You're invited to try the new Yahoo! Mail Beta. --__--__-- _______________________________________________ The_Dojang mailing list The_Dojang@martialartsresource.net http://martialartsresource.net/mailman/listinfo/the_dojang http://the-dojang.net Old digest issues @ ftp://ftp.martialartsresource.com/pub/the_dojang Copyright 1994-2006: Ray Terry and http://MartialArtsResource.com Standard disclaimers apply. Remember September 11. End of The_Dojang Digest